NEWS AND INFORMATION

City's budgeting process announced

In conjunction with Sunshine Week (March 13-19), Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan announced on March 18 details of an open budgeting process that will include the public and will help residents better understand what goes into building a budget.

The Mayor and finance staff will have budget hearings for city departments and city-funded entities beginning April 11 at City Council Chambers. All hearings, workshops and meetings regarding the 2011-2012 Budget will be open to the public, and the proceedings will be digitally recorded and posted on the City’s website for those unable to attend.

Sunshine Week is a national initiative to show the importance of open government and freedom of information. Newspapers, broadcasters and various organizations across the country participate in the week’s activities by featuring special stories and editorials that focus on the First Amendment’s right to know.

The public may attend the budget hearings to observe the process and learn specifics about department needs, proposed spending and possible savings. Later in the process, members of the public may address the City Council to express their thoughts on the budget.

To further help residents navigate the complicated budgeting process, Commissioner of Finance Ben Griffin, his staff and the Mayor’s Office have put together a “Citizen’s Guide to the Budget.” The 12-page document explains how government budgeting works, as well as provides an outline of the process and timeline for completing a budget by July 1 when the new budget takes effect.

Download The Citizen’s Guide

Here is a proposed timeline of how the budget process will proceed.

• April 1 – Departments will complete their budgets and enter them into the city’s accounting system.
• April 8 – Salary and benefits will be entered into the system and the Finance Department will complete its review of the information.
• April 11 through April 22 – Budget hearings will be held with the Mayor, city departments, City Council members and the public.
• May 31 -- City Council budget work session.
• June 13 – Notice of public hearing and a budget summary publishes in local newspaper.
• June 16 – City Council budget work session.
• June 23 – Public hearing and first reading of FY 2012 Budget.
• June 30 – Second reading of FY 2012 Budget.
          
               City of Clarksville FY2011/2012  Budget Hearings

Monday,   April  11		Budget Meeting Videos
9:00-10:00	Fire Dept.	Fire / Police Video
10:00-11:00	Police/Dispatch	Fire / Police Video
11:00-1:00	Break
1:00-2:00	Building Codes	Video
2:00-3:00	Streets	Video
Tuesday,   April  12
9:00-9:30	Legislative	April 12 Morning Session Video
9:30-10:00	Mayor’s Office	Budget Meetings - Legislative,
10:00-10:30	Finance	Mayor's Office, Finance
10:30-11:00	Municipal Properties	& Municipal Properties
11:00-1:00	Break
1:00-1:30	Transit	Video
1:30-2:00	Garage	Video
2:00-3:00	IT – GIS - Pictometry	Video
Wednesday,   April  13
10:00-10:30	Golf Courses	Budget Meetings, Golf Courses
10:30-11:00	H/R	and Human Resources video.
11:00-1:00	Break
1:00-1:30	City Court	Budget Meetings Video, City Court
1:30-2:00	Legal	Legal, Internal Audit, and
2:00-2:30	Internal Audit	Purchasing
2:30-3:00	Purchasing
Thursday,   April  21
9:00-10:00	Parks & Recreation Dept.	Budget Meeting Video, Parks and
10:00-11:00	Customs House Museum	Recreation, Customs House
11:00-1:00	Break
1:00-2:00	Regional Airport	Budget Meeting Video Regional
2:00-3:00	Senior Citizens Center	Airport and Senior Citizens Center
3:00-3:30	E-911	Budget Meeting Video E911
Friday,   April  22
9:00-9:30	Regional Planning Commission	Morning Session, RPC, Two Rivers Company and Parking Authority,
9:30-10:00	Two Rivers Company	and Internal Service Funds
10:00-10:30	Parking Authority
10:30-11:00	Internal Service Funds
11:00-1:00	Break
1:00-1:30	Housing and Community Development	Housing and Community Development and
1:30-2:00	Crime Stoppers	Crime Stoppers Budget Meetings
2:00-3:00	Clarksville Gas, Water & Sewer	Budget Meeting Video